News release from Greater Wellington Regional Council

7 March 2013

Free Brekkie For Walk To Work Day

Walk to work in Wellington City on Wednesday 13 March and enjoy a free breakfast courtesy of Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wellington City Council.

Fran Wilde, Chair of Wellington Regional Council, says Walk to Work Day is a chance to celebrate the tens of thousands of people in the region who walk to work each day. “More than 10% of commuters around the region walk to work and the overwhelming majority of those are in Wellington City – I’d encourage all of them to join us under the sails at Queens Wharf next Wednesday.

“Walking to work clears your head for the day, helps you arrive at work more relaxed and alert, and, very importantly, enables exercise to become part of your daily routine. As you get busier, finding time for exercise becomes harder – walking to and from work means you get at least a little exercise each day and, particularly this summer, your daily dose of Vitamin D.”

Fran Wilde says a recent report, commissioned by the Wellington Regional Strategy Committee, Auckland Council and Waikato Regional Council, into the costs of physical inactivity is alarming. “If people don’t do enough physical inactivity their chances of developing obesity, heart attacks, diabetes and other illnesses are greater. The region ends up paying for it in terms of significant treatments costs. For example, the cost to the Wellington region each year of over half the population not doing enough physical activity is about $140 million.

“So if you walk to work, thank you for not contributing to that cost!”

The Walk to Work Day celebrations at Queens Wharf will also include a fun exercise session with local company Mish Fitness and the prize giving for the Regional Council’s Streets Alive active commuting challenge.

More than 500 commuters around the region are taking part in the four week challenge where you score points for walking, running, cycling, skating or scooting to and from work.

Fran Wilde says this year’s challenge attracted new entries from schools. “It’s fantastic to have a wider range of workplaces and organisations taking part and helping to spread the message about the benefits of active commuting.”

Along with major prizes for the winning teams and workplaces, a variety of spot prizes will be up for grabs at the prize giving, which kicks off around 8am next Wednesday 13 March.

ENDS

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